as in partial
inclined to favor one side over another
a shamelessly partisan reporter covering the primary campaign
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also partizan
1
as in adherent
one who follows the opinions or teachings of another
partisans of the charismatic leader refuse to tolerate any criticism of him at all
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in militant
one who is intensely or excessively devoted to a cause
a partisan of the revolution who was even willing to give her life for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sectarian
one who stubbornly or intolerantly adheres to his or her own opinions and prejudices
she's too much of a political partisan to ever concede that the other side might have a valid point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of partisan
Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
This is also not a partisan argument that differentially favors one party over another.
—Michelle A. Williams, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
For many voters, negative coverage of a fellow partisan is not a warning sign.
—Brandon Rottinghaus, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Adjective
But political doesn’t — or, at least, once didn’t — necessarily imply partisan.
—Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
This is also not a partisan argument that differentially favors one party over another.
—Michelle A. Williams, STAT, 2 Feb. 2026
Noun
If history is any guide, Pelosi has every reason to believe Democrat partisans everywhere will dutifully nod their heads in agreement.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
For many voters, negative coverage of a fellow partisan is not a warning sign.
—Brandon Rottinghaus, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for partisan
Recent Examples of Synonyms for partisan
Adjective
-
But a partial government shutdown again delayed the BLS release.—
Sean Conlon,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Crews will lift girders into place over the highway, requiring a partial closure of I-670.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its adherents believe that on social media and in other online spaces, only a few real people create posts, comments, and images.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
22 Jan. 2026
-
His lawyers sought a sentence of no more than 20 years, citing his troubles as the child of a church adherent.—
Mari Yamaguchi,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Above and below are first-look images from the movie which stars Swell Ariel Or (Beauty Queen of Jerusalem) as the unit’s captain, who in the absence of central command took it upon herself to lead three armored vehicles and engage Hamas militants in a battle that lasted more than 17 hours.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The militants at the time besieged it for months before being pushed back.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The Iraqi prime minister at the time, Nuri al-Maliki, was a Shiite sectarian with close ties to Iran, and many of his fellow Shia thought he could be relied on to listen to Iran’s wishes and find a way to avoid clashing with an Iranian proxy militia.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Both sides insist the other initiated the initial volley of gunfire that killed four agents and six sectarians.—
Joshua Alston,
Variety,
12 Apr. 2023
Adjective
-
The program put on by the Star Tribune held a four-hour session for local journalists, which included hostile environment awareness and first aid training designed to help students make informed decisions about safety while reporting in volatile situations.—
Nick Lunemann,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Three former employees who worked under Carol Johnson, Austin’s first Civil Rights Officer, filed a federal lawsuit Thursday alleging racial discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment within the city’s Office of Civil Rights.—
Chaya Tong,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Japanese followers were expected to contribute more than others.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
In an Instagram story on Monday, Katy Perry asked her followers to call their senators to ask them to block the appropriations bill that includes funding for DHS.—
Zachary Folk,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
To now endure censure by overzealous anti-Pretendian crusaders, and banishment by bureaucratic tribal decrees and reactionary blood-quantum rules, feels particularly bitter.—
David Treuer,
The Atlantic,
13 Jan. 2026
-
For now, privacy crusaders are left to wait.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, displays a historic flag outside his office on Capitol Hill that in recent years has been embraced by Christian nationalists.—
Hillary Rodham Clinton,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
-
And also to warn about bloodshed if civil war follows regime change, bloodshed between nationalists and those who’ve had enough of being tied to a constantly unstable country.—
Melik Kaylan,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Partisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/partisan. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
